Brand new story alert! While I edit my Teen Wolf story, I'm uploading this, since it's been sitting on my computer for months... I absolutely loved the show Broadchurch, and David Tennant, so this happened... enjoy!

CHAPTER ONE

BONNIE IRVING

Broadchurch was a wonderful small town to settle down in. For years, it had been Bonnie's home. Living above her own book store Between the Pages had been a dream come true. And she got along well with her neighbors and other townsfolk. Even if they thought she was strange and easily distracted sometimes. Sometimes, people even thought they saw her talking to herself. But she was a lovely woman, who did good things for the community. Along with running a book store dedicated to classic literature and second-hand books, it also doubled as a tutoring center for the children in town. She employed teenagers in her effort to give them something constructive to do with their time outside of school, and to help their peers learn. While she took up much of the tutoring herself, she trained many young tutors as well.

Only, no one really knew where she came from. She had moved into town from Wales, that she volunteered readily. But she had an American accent. She had told people that her grandparents were dead and left her the money she used to buy the store and her apartment above it. She said she had an Uncle in Wales and was close with him and his family. But other than that, no one quite knew much about her.

Bonnie Irving was an integral part of Broadchurch, even if she had secrets. She wasn't the only one.

She opened the doors of her shop with a smile on her face, readily greeting one of her employees, Denise. She was a wife and mother, who'd been out of the workforce for almost a decade when Bonnie rolled into town and was salivating for something to do during the day now that all her children had started school. She'd been the first one to come looking for a job, and she was one of the only ones besides Bonnie herself who worked during school hours. Most teenagers worked after school and weekends, since they had their own studies to attend to.

"Would you like some tea?" she asked Denise.

"Oh, I couldn't," Denise waved her off as she did every morning, but silently accepted the cup Bonnie handed to her readily.

It was a normal morning for the most part. Bonnie opened the store with Denise until around nine in the morning, and then went to take her walk along the trail on the cliffs along the beach coast. She stopped at her bench, just up the hill from the Reverend Paul's church. She never attended Church, even though she came off as a spiritual person. Often, she had deep conversations and discussions with Paul about religion and finding faith in the world. And he was one of the only people who didn't question her incessantly when she first moved into town.

When she got to her bench, there was a robed elderly woman sitting there already. "Hello Mrs. McAllister."

The woman looked startled that Bonnie spoke to her, but smiled widely, "Hello Miss Irving!"

"You can call me Bonnie, please," she said as she sat down, looking over the coast.

"Then you must call me Bella."

Bonnie smiled, turning her eyes to the coast. "Beautiful morning isn't it?"

"That it is," Mrs. McAllister sighed blissfully. "What time is it?"

"About half past nine," Bonnie answered after consulting her watch. She turned to the elder woman, "How are you feeling?"

Mrs. McAllister's smile never faded, "Much better, dear. I caught the sunrise. No backache this morning either. It's a much-needed respite from the aches and pains of being an old codger."

Bonnie laughed kindly, "You're not that old."

The women sat in silence for a few moments, just taking in the morning air. Bonnie took a deep breath before squeezing Mrs. McAllister's hand and saying, "I best be checking in at the shop right about now. See how Denise is handling things."

"Right, I think I best be off too," the jolly woman smiled even larger if that were possible. "Frank's probably missing me right about now."

"I'm sure he is," Bonnie smiled before bidding the woman a good morning and making her way back home from the beach. The bell above her shop's door rang as she walked back in, only to see Denise in tears, "Oh, Denise, what's wrong?"

"My mother-in-law passed away this morning. Jake's just gotten the call," Denise sniffled.

Bonnie readily swept Denise up in a hug, "Oh, I'm so sorry. Um, how did it happen?"

"In her sleep, small blessings," Denise said as they pulled away. "We've known this was coming for a while now. I just don't know what to tell the children, they so loved their grandmother."

"Tell them that their grandmother felt no pain, and is in a better place," Bonnie told her confidently. "That's what my parents did when my grandparents died. It doesn't dull the sting, but it helps the grieving to remind yourselves that their pain is over."

Denise smiled, "I hope that's good enough."

"Nothing will be good enough to help with losing such a great woman as Bella McAllister," Bonnie said. "But it's something. Why don't you take off? Check on your husband, pull the kids out of school and take them to the beach to tell them the news. That way they don't associate losing their grandmother with home. My dad took me to get ice cream when my nan passed away."

"That sounds lovely," Denise said. "Thank you."

"Think nothing of it, go," Bonnie ushered the woman out the shop's doors. Once she was out of sight, Bonnie leaned on the cashier's counter and sighed, her breath coming out in a visible puff of air, as if it were freezing.

"That did sound lovely."

Bonnie wasn't startled to hear Bella McAllister's voice behind her, but she was slightly surprised as she turned to see the woman, "I thought you were off to see your husband?"

Bella smiled, cupping her hands in front of her delicately, "He's been waiting for me for five years. I think he can wait long enough for me to see my family off before I go."

Bonnie nodded, accepting her reasoning, "Then you'll get to see the beach once more before you go."

Bella patted Bonnie's hands on top of the counter, "I always knew there was something special about you, darling. You do something amazing for people like me."

Bonnie awkwardly smiled and clasped her hands around the older woman's, "I'm glad I could help you a little bit."

"You did, dear," Bella nodded and walked through the door, no bell.

ONE MONTH LATER

The bell above the door brought Bonnie's head out of the clouds. The schools had just let out so plenty of kids were making their way over for tutoring or help with their homework. Bonnie smiled when saw a familiar pair of siblings walk in. "Hello Danny, Chloe. Who needs help today?"

Chloe rolled her light eyes, "I'm just walking him."

Bonnie smiled, "History?"

Danny blushed as he nodded, "Yeah. I don't have the head for dates and names and stuff."

Bonnie chuckled, "To tell the truth, I never did either. But Dotty's got a group going at the orange table if you want to join. They're all around the same place as you so you should have no problem getting the material you need covered. Let me know if you need anything one-on-one and we can arrange something, yeah?"

Danny smiled gratefully, "Thanks, Bonnie," before wandering to the back of the store.

Chloe leaned idly on the front of the counter, "Got any new magazines?"

Bonnie laughed, "You know I don't carry those. Better luck at Jack's spot."

Chloe scoffed, "Thanks anyway. See you later."

Bonnie nodded her off and went back to reading her novel at the front counter. Once four in the afternoon rolled around and one of her counter girls checked in for her shift, Bonnie made her way out of town to get something for lunch, a late lunch. She ended up on the pier, getting fish and chips from a bodega. She was walking while eating when she passed through the boardwalk and bumped her shoulder into a man's walking the opposite direction.

"Oh, sorry," she apologized, seeing a disheveled and skinny pale man in a long dark coat and a young girl with short blonde hair walking with him.

The man paused awkwardly and nodded to her, speaking gruffly and without feeling, "Don't worry about it."

"Father daughter outing?" she asked to make conversation.

The man's brow furrowed, "Sorry?"

She was about to introduce herself, starting with the daughter, but then she noticed how the girl seemed serene. How she gazed between her and the man with a peace Bonnie had only ever seen on people on their way out of the world. He couldn't see the girl. And maybe she was his daughter, maybe she wasn't. But now Bonnie probably sounded and looked insane.

"My mistake," she smiled lightly, walking off before he could say anything else. That was close. She could usually tell instantly if someone was on their way out or living. She could usually tell right away. It was helpful to avoid awkward encounters like that one. But she'd missed the signs and made an ass of herself in front of this man. She would have to be more careful.

It had also been a while since she'd seen someone so young. The girl didn't look much older than twenty. It was one of the main reasons she's decided to settle into Broadchurch. In the larger, more populated areas, there were a lot of people on their way out. And the minute they realized she could see them, they wanted to talk to her. Pass on messages. Resolve their leftover issues. Get her to help them move on. She was happy to do it for the most part, but after a while it got emotionally taxing. And then after what happened with Ramona Wilson nearly eight years ago, she knew she needed to get somewhere smaller. Somewhere less populated and nicer. She was glad she found Broadchurch.

ONE WEEK LATER

Bonnie was opening the shop doors when Denise arrived to run the counter. "Good morning. Where are you off to for your morning off?"

Bonnie smiled and bid her good morning back, "Off to watch the races at the school. I even made pudding cups for the kids." She packed large Tupperware of pudding into a small wagon for her walk to the school. She wheeled it down the main street towards the school with a smile on her face. It was a bit more difficult to drag it through the grass when she reached the school, but one of the teachers rushed to help her. "Thanks Sadie."

"No problem, Bonnie," she smiled as she helped set out most of the pudding cups under a tent they had set up.

Bonnie caught sight of her friend Beth Latimer approaching with a lunch box and purse in hand and waved her over, "Morning Beth."

"Morning Bonnie," the young mother smiled back.

Sadie spoke next, frowning curiously, "No Danny?"

Beth now frowned in confusion, "Oh, I thought he was here."

Sadie shook her head slowly, "No, we haven't seen him today."

"Well, did you register?" Beth asked.

Sadie nodded, "Yeah, we haven't seen him since yesterday."

Beth was instantly worried and walked off to make a phone call. Bonnie came up behind her to hear her saying, "So, you're not at school. Can you give me a call straight away? I just wanna know where you are."

"Didn't answer?" Bonnie asked, a cold stone forming in the pit of her stomach.

Beth shook her head, readily dialing a new number and putting her phone back to her ear, "Jack, it's Beth. Danny did his paper round this morning, right?... Oh, err, okay, did he ring?... No, no, it's fine. I'm just... just not quite sure where he is."

Beth was starting to breath quicker now, her fingers shaking on her phone. Bonnie took her arm in her hands, "Just breathe. We'll get to the bottom of this. Call Mark."

Beth did as told, "Mark, it's me. Ring me now." As soon as she hung up, Bonnie trailed after her as she flagged down Danny's best friend, Tom, "Tom? Tom! Danny didn't say he was going anywhere this morning, did he? He's not in trouble."

Tom shrugged and shook head, walking off after Beth thanked him. Sadie grasped Beth's elbow and asked with concern, "Can I do anything?"

Beth shook her head, lost, "Just give me a call if he shows up."

Sadie nodded, and Beth started walking off. Bonnie contemplated letting her go alone, but as she trailed a few steps behind her, she caught sight of Danny by the gate. He looked haggard and confused, staring at her and Beth. With a sharp gasp, Bonnie realized the tragic truth of his appearance. Especially when she saw that Beth had no reaction. She couldn't see him.

But Beth did hear her gasp and turn to her, "You all right?"

Thinking quickly, Bonnie held her side briefly, "Bit of a stitch in the side. Nothing to worry about. I'd like to come with you, help. Denise has the shop covered."

"All right, thank you, Bonnie," Beth seemed relieved not to go through her worry alone.

They corralled themselves into Beth's car, but quickly got stuck behind a line of cars on the main road. Bonnie felt her heart in her throat when she saw Danny in the back seat.

"Mum? Why aren't we back at school?" Danny's small voice sounded from the back.

Bonnie tried hard to hide her flinch. She quickly turned on the radio.

"Main road to the coast at Broadchurch is closed. If you are heading to the beach, I suggest you make other plans."

Beth was tapping her foot and biting at her thumb nail with nerves. But when she heard the radio, frustration got the best of her and she got out of her car. Bonnie cursed to herself and yanked the keys from the car to turn it off. Beth ducked her head to the car next to her to ask, "What's going on?"

The woman shrugged, "Someone said the police are at the beach. They might have found a body."

Bonnie saw the worst fear a mother could have dawn on Beth's face. And without care to her car or anything else, she took off running.

"Mum!" Danny's voice shouted.

"Beth!" Bonnie shouted for her, glad she wore her trainers. Beth was a runner, and an athletic one. She was hard to keep up with in her flats. But Beth was determined to make it to the beach. When they got there, they could see uniforms holding a perimeter, cutting off a large section of the beach. And in the distance, workers were setting up a scene. One of them were covering a small body with a tarp. Bonnie idly recognized two of the officers. One Ellie Miller. And one being the long coat she'd run into on the pier a week ago, being followed by a young girl no longer living.

Beth was already gasping to herself, pacing back and forth behind the crowd before she ducked under the tape and raced towards the scene. "Oh, God. Oh, god – who's that?"

Ellie looked like she'd been crying already, and looked aghast that Beth was there, "No, Beth, get off the beach."

"What have you found?" Beth cried.

Bonnie raced after her, "Beth, you shouldn't see this!"

She had just reached Beth and gotten her arms around the other woman's waist as Beth started thrashing when she saw the feet and the shoes on them, "Those are his shoes! Those are Danny's trainers!"

It took Bonnie and three other uniforms to get Beth away. She was hysterical, sobbing and screaming and fighting. They started leading Beth away when Ellie grabbed Bonnie's elbow, "Will you see her home? We'll be by soon."

"I've got it covered," Bonnie assured her quickly, rushing off after Beth. One of the uniforms rode them back to the Latimer house, and Bonnie had to walk the mother in.

"It's him. I know it's him. Oh, god," Beth was whimpering in tears.

Liz, Beth's mother, poked her head out of the kitchen and frowned when she saw her daughter in a lurch, "Beth? What on Earth is the matter?"

"I think you both should sit down," Bonnie replied, seeing Danny by the back window, looking confused and sad.

"I'll start a pot of tea," Bonnie quickly offered, disappearing into the kitchen.

"What's going on, Bonnie?" Danny followed her.

Bonnie had to stifle her jump as she turned to look at him, speaking quietly, "Danny, I know this is confusing. I'm so sorry."

"Why is no one seeing me but you?" Danny asked. "Everyone's walking around like I'm not here."

Bonnie had to choose her words carefully. It was always harder when they didn't know. When she had to tell them. "Danny, they found you on the beach this morning. Do you remember what happened?"

Danny frowned in thought, "I remember getting your help with my homework. Chloe brought a magazine."

Bonnie frowned, "That was Monday. This is Friday. Danny," she sighed, crouching down to his level, "they found a dead body on the beach."

Danny seemed in tears, "It was me?"

Sadly, Bonnie nodded, "I'm so sorry. Please, tell me if you remember anything about what happened last night. I cannot believe that you might've jumped..."

Suddenly excited, Danny shook his head quickly, "No, I wouldn't do that! I promise!"

"I believe you," she tried to sooth him. "We will figure out what happened. Sometimes that's all it takes."

"All it takes for what?" he asked.

Again, she had to choose her words carefully, "For you to move on. That's how it seems to work."

"I don't want to go!" Danny protested.

"I know, you're not ready," she said. "That's okay. It'll wait for you to be ready."

When the tea was ready, Danny seemed to realize he had to be quiet and not draw Bonnie's attention do him. It wouldn't do well for her to look crazy in front of his family. Only Liz had accepted the tea when Mark and Chloe got home. Mark was stoic, and Chloe was confused, asking all sorts of questions no one had the answers to.

When Ellie and the skinny man got there, Bonnie made herself useful by going to the door. "Hi Ellie."

"Bonnie, this is DI Hardy," Ellie quickly introduced. "He's taking the lead."

"You are?" the man – Hardy – asked, not seeming to recognize her from the pier. She was grateful for that. She didn't want her bad first impression to get in the way of the investigation. If she looked crazy, they may focus on her and forget what really happened to Danny. Only she knew what must have happened. The only reason she'd seen someone with memory gaps was due to trauma.

"Bonnie Irving," she shook his hand. "I was with Beth at the beach. I'm just a friend."

She led them into the house where Mark, Chloe, Liz and Beth were huddled onto the couch. She went to stand just in reach of Beth on the far left. With just enough room for Ben to stand next to his mum. And just close enough for Beth to reach out to her if need be.

The DI took over the conversation there, sitting heavily in a chair across from them, "I'm Detective Inspector Alec Hardy, and you know DS Miller." Luckily, Bonnie had already set out chairs for him and Ellie. She couldn't sit though. She felt useless sitting.

Looking at Hardy, he seemed heavy. He was lanky and tall, but just looked weighed down. "The body of a young boy was found..."

Beth was quick to the assumption, "It's Danny, isn't it? I saw his shoes."

Mark tried to calm her down, "Plenty of kids have those shoes," before turning to Hardy and saying, "Sorry. You talk."

Hardy looked like he didn't want to say what he had to say next, trying to break the tragic news as easily as possible to this ruptured family. "We believe it's Danny's body."

Liz and Chloe both started crying. Beth was shattered. Like all the air got knocked out of her. She was sobbing almost silently, her body shaking. Mark was forcibly stoic and looked to be holding in tears as he pulled his wife and daughter into his chest and tried his hardest to comfort them. Beth looked to Ellie, "Who is it, Ellie? Was it him?"

With tears welling in her eyes, the DS nodded minutely. She looked like she was frozen.

Bonnie reached around Danny to put her arm on Beth's shoulder while Mark continued trying to comfort them. Liz had silent tears streaming down her face as she tried to be strong. Beth just fell limply into whoever held her, husband or close friend.

"Was it an accident?" Beth asked. "Did he fall?"

"We don't know yet," Hardy answered. "Can you think why he might have been up on the cliffs last night or this morning?"

"He wouldn't have been," Beth determined.

"Well, obviously he was," Mark told her quietly.

"He didn't have any reason to be," Beth insisted.

Liz had forced herself off the couch to making another pot of tea, offering a cup to the detectives and Bonnie before laying some out for her family on the coffee table. After that had been done, she seemed lost. Like she had to be doing something and felt useless otherwise.

"How was Danny over the past few days?" Hardy asked carefully.

"He didn't kill himself if that's what you're suggesting," Mark said quickly. "He's been just... normal. He wouldn't kill himself. He knows he can talk to us about anything."

"And you last saw him when?" he asked.

"I looked in on him... err, about nine o'clock last night," Beth said, thinking to herself about the last time she'd seen her son. "He was laid in bed reading."

Hardy looked throughout the family members' faces, "Anyone see Danny this morning?"

Bonnie almost said yes, remembering him appearing at the school gate. She even opened her mouth. But she stopped herself when she remembered how haggard and confused and bereft Danny had looked at school. The moment she realized the young boy she was so fond of, her close friend's son, was gone. And she had to hold her tongue.

The family collectively shook their heads, while Beth spoke, "No. He was up and out before anyone else. He's got a paper round. But he didn't turn up for that. Jack, I spoke to him. He runs the paper shop."

"Any signs of forced entry or disturbance round the house?"

"No, nothing," Beth said.

It was quiet for a moment before Mark suddenly spoke, "I wanna see the body."

Beth looked disgusted at his words. And Chloe and Liz seemed taken aback. Bonnie had to admit she wasn't surprised. A lot of people needed to see the truth for themselves before they could admit to themselves that someone they love is gone.

"What for?" Danny asked though, not understanding.

"You might be wrong about it being him," Mark justified. "So, I wanna be sure. I wanna see."

Ellie and Mark prepared to go identify Danny's body officially. Bonnie made a quick excuse to go to the bathroom, knowing Danny would follow her. She whispered, "You should follow your father, Danny. He's going to speak to you, and part of him will know that you hear it if you're there. Go."

Danny quietly nodded, perhaps reluctant to walk away from the only person who knew he was there. But he did as she said and followed Mark and Ellie out the door. After that, she made her way downstairs and gave the other women big hugs. "I'm so sorry I have to go. Denise has to see to the kids before her husband gets home. I have to watch the shop."

"Of course," Liz assured the girl.

She hugged Beth extra hard, "If you need absolutely anything just give me a shout. I mean anything."

Beth hugged her back and nodded, wordlessly seeing her off. Bonnie didn't really need to take over for Denise, but she did. She needed to get out of that house, out of their way. It would be difficult to be around them all the time with Danny hanging about. It would be impossible to hide her reaction to the boy no longer with them all the time. She didn't want to let slip the truth and torture them even more with the knowledge that Danny was still trapped on the surface. Still trapped with them but could never communicate with them. That he was around but they could never touch them. She couldn't do that to them.

Back at the station, Hardy was busy putting together a whiteboard of information, starting with those closest to Danny. "Was Danny Latimer abducted? Did someone gain access to the house? If so, how? If it wasn't forced entry, who has the key? We need to collect any CCTV from a mile radius around the house. Miller – family. Who are they and where are they?"

"Beth had Chloe, their eldest daughter, when she was fifteen," Ellie started informing the team, still reeling from the fact that her close friends, the best friend of her son, was dead. "Mark was seventeen. Mum and daughter were at home watching telly. They say they didn't leave the house until school next morning. Dad was out on an emergency call-out. He's a plumber. He got in around three. Neither parent thought to check on Danny. Gran lives nearby. She was in all evening. The other gran lives in Wales."

Hardy nodded along and regarded everyone, "Until we're ready all of this remains confidential. No gossip. Do you understand?" Everyone nodded and dispersed once he dismissed them. But he flagged Ellie down before she could walk off, "What about that woman who was at their house? The friend?"

"Bonnie Irving," Ellie answered.

Hardy waited for her to elaborate. When she didn't immediately volunteer more information about the woman, he gave her a look.

She jumped with the realization of what he wanted and quickly spoke, "Oh, um, obviously, she's American. She has family in Wales, originally from Scotland. She moved here almost a decade ago and took over the bookshop by the newspaper. It doubles as a tutoring center for kids, she employs a lot of teenagers. That's how she knows the Latimers. Danny used to go there for help with his homework. She, Beth, and I became friends after that. She's even babysat for us from time to time."

"So, you trust her?" Hardy questioned. "Danny would have trusted her?"

Ellie scowled, "I know what you're playing at and yes, we all trust her. But I can't imagine she would have done anything to Danny. That's not her."

"We can't afford to cross anyone off, Miller," he said. "Everyone is of interest as of this moment."

After the shop was nearly empty for the few hours she'd come back to work, Bonnie decided to let her tutors go home early and close shop for the rest of the day, possibly the whole weekend. She didn't have the concentration she needed to focus on the shop. And it seemed everyone was distracted by the ever-spreading news that a body was found on the beach.

After closing, she got a call from Beth, "Ellie's called and said they're on their way here to talk to us. I think they know how Danny died. Please, will you come hear it with us?"

"I'll be right there," she promised, cursing herself for never learning how to drive in the UK and getting a car. She had to walk everywhere. But luckily, she had some athleticism of her own and made her way into the Latimer household at the same time as the detectives. "Hello again, Mr. Hardy. Hello Ellie."

Feeling a bit awkward from her conversation with Hardy about the younger woman, Ellie smiled and gestured them towards the door. Bonnie knew it was already unlocked and opened the door for them all. She stood with Beth in the kitchen while Hardy told them what she already knew.

"We have some preliminary findings," he said. "We are treating Danny's death as suspicious."

Beth let a gust of air whoosh out of her lungs, leaning on Bonnie for support. "Oh..."

"We think he may have been killed," Hardy continued.

"I should have checked on him before I went to bed," Beth lamented. "If I'd checked..."

"Beth, this is not your fault," Ellie cut in, emotional. "Whatever happened, this is not down to you."

Hardy looked like he wanted to say something, but didn't, opting to say, "I promise... we will find the person responsible. You have my word."

Mark had taken over comforting Beth then, and Liz asked her to pick up some things from the grocery store for them. Which she was only so happy to do. She hadn't seen Danny since he went after Mark, but it still felt cold. He was still trapped.

On her way out the door, she heard Hardy's voice call after her, "Miss Irving!"

She turned around with a forced smile. She didn't want to get to close to the DI, lest he witness something damning. "You can call me Bonnie. Don't have much taste for the surname thing around here."

"I've noticed," he commented. "I'd like to ask you some questions regarding the case. When you've got a spare moment."

"Sure," she tried to stamp down her nerves. "I'm off to pick up some things for the Latimers now, but I should be at the shop soon. It's next to the Echo, across from the Traders. I live above it as well, so just pop round whenever. I'm assuming you'd like to speak without Ellie." At his questioning look, she forced her mouth into a line to hide her frustration at herself for speaking out of turn. "I just mean you don't seem to happy with how emotional she's getting discussing things with the family. Just give her time and a push here or there and she'll understand that work is work."

He seemed a bit uncomfortable before clearing his throat and saying, "Right. I'll be stopping by when I can then." With that said, and Ellie appearing outside, the detectives were off and so was she.

She picked up some essentials from the market for the Latimers, using her own credit card to pay, refusing to take money from Liz. While she was there, she also picked out a nice orchid. She would have gotten a bouquet of flowers, but those would have died in a few days. The orchid would give them something to do with. Sometimes people grieving needed a reason to get out of bed. Even something as simple as taking care of a plant.

When she got herself into their house, Liz busied herself by helping her put things away and thanking her over and over. Some uniforms were also at the house, including their town SOCO, Brian Young. She'd gone out on a couple nice evenings with him. Nothing that ever panned out. She regarded him with a smile, "Hello Brian."

"Hello Bon," he greeted her shortly from the living. Beth was reclined on the couch, staring off into space. Brian cleared his throat for her attention, "I'm going to take Danny's computer away for examination."

Liz poked her head in, "Will they get it back?"

He nodded, "Sure, as soon as we've finished with it."

"It's got his stuff on it," Liz said quietly.

Brian frowned, trying to reassure her, "We'll be careful."

Then Chloe stormed down the stairs with her phone in her hand, "Why have you released his name?" She looked at her mother, "Did you agree to that?"

Beth came out of her stupor, "What?"

Chloe was steaming, "It's on Twitter. From the Broadchurch Echo. Daniel Latimer."

Beth looked to Brian, "Why have they done that?"

Brian seemed just as confused as Bonnie felt. But he couldn't say so, "Talk to the officer in charge."

Beth wasn't so easily consoled, "Nobody told us this was going to happen. Aren't they supposed to consult?" Then she turned to her daughter, "How do you know anyway?"

Chloe looked sheepish now, "I've got a Google alert on Broadchurch and death."

Liz looked scandalized, "Oh, for goodness' sake, Chloe!"

"Well, it's a good job I have otherwise we wouldn't have known," she argued.

"Known what?" Mark's voice filtered into the room as he walked in from the backyard.

"This doesn't make any sense," Bonnie found fit to intervene now. "Ellie wouldn't blindside you like this. And I've met detectives like Hardy. They need to control every aspect of a case like this. Nothing they put out in the press would come from Twitter, it would come from his own mouth."

"Then how do you suppose this happened?" Chloe sniped at her with attitude. "Now everyone knows!"

"Chloe," Liz scolded her granddaughter. This was Bonnie, their friend. Not the police.

"Knowing Olly, he worked it out for himself somehow and the little shit took it upon himself to put it out there," Bonnie thought out loud. "He's salivating for something to separate him from the herd, so he can get on a bigger newspaper."

Mark demanded again, "What did he do?"

"For God's sake!" Hardy's shout rang through the station as he stormed out of his office. "Bloody Twitter! These people's lives have been destroyed and now our incompetence has made it worse. Think what we have to do now to rebuild trust there. Who told the journalist?"

Feeling chastised already, Ellie weakly stood, clearing her throat, "I think it might have been me."

Hardy turned to her, shocked and angered, "Your nephew?"

Ellie nodded, "He saw Danny's sister at the beach. I didn't tell him anything. I told him not to publish. He's a little shit. I'll read the riot act and I'll explain to the family."

Hardy swallowed, "Go away."

Bonnie sat clutching hands with Beth as they watched DI Hardy making an official statement. It was the moment of truth.

"This is a short statement to confirm that this morning the body of an eleven-year-old child was found on Harbour Cliff Beach at Broadchurch. The body was subsequently identified as Daniel Latimer, who lived in the town. We are treating his death as suspicious. Our investigations are continuing and there'll be a full briefing later this evening. We ask the media respect the family's privacy at this time. Thank you."

The reporters tried to assault him with a barrage of questions, their camera flashing in his face as he stepped away from the podium.

"Now everyone really knows," Beth breathed, squeezing Bonnie's hands.

Bonnie put her other arm around the woman, "It's good though. Maybe someone saw something and now they'll come forward."

"You think so?" Beth asked in the smallest voice.

"I hope so."

After that, Ellie came by to take Beth out of the house, probably to the beach or another part of it. Bonnie decided to make her way home and bade time for the rest of the day, giving the Latimers time to themselves. They'd call her when they needed her. But it was also a good idea to keep her distance, lest Danny pop up and surprise her in front of them. She couldn't afford for questions to be asked. She had gotten so far in life without exposing her secret.

She had been sitting on her couch in her small apartment, news turned on, for a while. Dinner for one sitting on her coffee table, only half eaten. It was a night like this where she wished she had a cat. She'd only ever had one pet in her life. A puppy her parents had gotten her when she was seven. She'd taken care of it all by herself for the most part. She loved little Teddy, her living Teddy bear. But then he'd been hit by a speeding driver, and after he died, still followed her around everywhere. He'd only moved on when she moved out. She couldn't stomach another pet after that.

She startled when the news briefing for Danny's case started. She let the beginnings of the discussion wash over her. Not really paying attention. Until Hardy appeared. She heard Maggie's voice asking from behind the cameras, "What advice do you have for people in the town, particularly parents?"

Bonnie was hoping this was an isolated incident. She was hoping this wasn't the first of more child murders to come. She couldn't stomach that. She'd have to leave Broadchurch and set up somewhere else. She'd have to start over again.

"The crime rate in this area is one of the lowest in the country," Hardy answered, speaking down into the mics in front of him. "This is a terrible anomaly. We are in the early moments of what might be a complex investigation. Danny's life touched many people and we'll be looking at all those connections. If you or someone you know has any information, has noticed anything unusual, please come forward now. Um, I'd urge everyone, don't hide anything... because we will find out. If a member of your family or a friend or a neighbor has been behaving differently in the past days or weeks, please tell the police immediately. There will be no hiding place for Danny's killer. We will catch whoever did this."

After that, Bonnie couldn't watch anything anymore. So, she shut off the television and turned on her radio to start playing the Beatles. That band always made her feel better. It was her father's favorite. She had already thrown away the rest of her dinner and started tidying the apartment when she decided that she desperately needed a drink. She was slipping on her father's pea coat when her buzzer rang, meaning someone was downstairs wanting to see her.

She made her way down the stairs into her shop and saw Detective Hardy alone through the window waiting. She opened the door with a polite smile, "Hello Hardy. I was beginning to wonder if you were still coming round today."

He took in her coat and commented, "Seems I'm interrupting. You look like you're on your way out."

"Just across the street," she said, gesturing to the Traders Hotel. "I felt like getting a drink. I understand you're staying there. Care to join me? Then you can ask me your questions."

He awkwardly nodded, "Right. Sure."

She locked her door behind her and they crossed the street, taking seats in Becca Fisher's bar. The blonde met them inside and asked, "What can I get you?"

"Usual for me, Becca," Bonnie said as she stripped off her coat and laid it over the chair before sitting at the small table she and the detective chose.

When Becca looked questioningly at Hardy, he just grunted, "A water."

While Becca got their drinks, Hardy got out a pad of paper and ink pen and asked, matter-of-fact, "Can you start by telling me your full name?"

"Bonnie Kenneth Irving," she answered dubiously.

"How long have you lived in Broadchurch?" he asked. "You haven't been here your whole life like some."

"I think it's been seven years now," she told him. "I moved in after school. Wanted the quiet life. Never liked big cities like London. I moved in from Whales, if that's your next inquiry."

"You're American," he stated more than asked but there was still a question in there.

"I left the states after I turned eighteen," she told him.

"Where in the states?"

She hesitated before answering, "I grew up in Richmond, Virginia."

Becca came over then with their drinks, setting them down over napkins. "Enjoy."

"Thanks Becca," Bonnie said before taking a drink from her beer.

Hardy leaned back in his chair, "No one seems to know much about you and your past. Just a few tidbits to keep the questions away."

"I admit I'm a bit private," she shrugged, wracking her head for something innocuous to put him off. "A lot of people who move here are. Broadchurch is the kind of place you come to get away from things if you're not born here."

He seemed like he wanted to say something about her words, but instead chose to ask her something more relevant. "What was your relationship with Danny Latimer and the Latimer family?"

She gestured her head out the front window towards her shop, "My book store is also the local tutoring center. Consequently, I get involved with the school. I met Beth first, since she runs the tourism desk at the Echo, next door to me. I got friendly with Ellie through her. Danny would come in sporadically twice a week to get help with his homework. Chloe would walk him over and then leave."

"Miller mentioned that you've watched the boys on occasion," he commented.

She shrugged, "Sometimes on the odd date night. I haven't for a while. The boys were getting old enough to take care of themselves for an hour or two." She looked down as she said so. Everyone thought eleven was old enough for them to be left to themselves. But look where Danny was now.

"Why were you at the Latimers house when we came by to inform them that we found Danny on the beach?" he asked, taking a quick sip of his water if only to do something.

She took a large gulp of her beer. "I was at the school for the races they hold for the kids. I made pudding. I was with Beth when she realized Danny hadn't shown up for school. Went with her to search."

"You were with her on the beach," Hardy remembered.

She nodded, sagging a bit into her chair, "It was horrible. I can't believe someone would hurt a child."

They were quiet with their drinks for a moment. Until, out of the blue, he asked, "Are you currently in a relationship, Miss Irving?"

She was startled to say the least. "Excuse me?"

He gestured to the coat around her chair, "That's a men's coat."

She laughed, "It was my father's. I kept it after he died. I think it was his grandfather's coat as well."

Hardy couldn't explain the relieved feeling that washed over him at her correction. He tried to choke it down with an awkward clearing of his throat and another drink of his water before he continued, "Right then. Is there anything you can think of that could help us find the person responsible?"

She thought of Danny, of seeing him. But he didn't remember how he died, or who killed him. She hadn't gained any remarkable insight from seeing him yet. And even if he had had something to tell her, she could tell the police without proof or without lying to them. And she couldn't allow them to find out her secret. So, she shook her head, "No, I wish I could."

He just nodded, watching as she slowly drained the rest of her glass. "And where were you last night and this morning?"

She sighed, knowing that question was inevitable. "I closed up shop around nine. I got on skype with my Uncle until around midnight and then went to bed. And I live alone."

He wrote it down. "And your Uncle would confirm that."

She was already tugging his paper over to her and jotting down her Uncles name and number, "Sure. We try to skype every couple of weeks. I try to visit a couple times a year."

"Right then," he said, accepting the information. He thought it was unfortunate that she didn't have an alibi. But he also knew from the post-mortem that they were looking for an adult man.

"What's your first name again?" Bonnie couldn't stop herself from asking, but she could inwardly scold herself. She wasn't supposed to be getting to know him. But the fact that the first time she'd seen him he was being followed by a girl no longer with them, intrigued her. It always intrigued her when people were cared about or important enough to be followed.

He seemed surprised by her question, "Um, Alec."

"Alec," she smiled. "That's a nice name. You can call me Bonnie."

Again, he cleared his throat, "All right. Bonnie. I think that's all for tonight."

"Good, because I can't justify another drink," she joked, getting up and taking their glasses away to the bar.

With awkward movements, he got up and took her coat to drape it over her to help her back into it. "I'll, uh, see you to your door."

"You don't have to," she told him, but didn't say anything when he walked with her down the street to her shop. When she unlocked her door, she turned to say goodnight, but was startled to see the blonde girl from their first meeting standing just a ways off down the sidewalk. She held in her gasp at the sight of the girl. She still looked so serene. Smiling at her and Hardy.

"Miss Irving?" the detective's voice broke her wordless connection with the girl and called her attention back to him. He looked behind him towards the same direction but saw nothing. He seemed concerned and maybe suspicious, "What were you looking at?"

"Bonnie please," she tried to come up with a good lie. "I thought I saw someone. I guess this whole thing with Danny's got me a little on edge. Doesn't help that I live alone above a shop."

"Right then," he said. "If you do need help, or feel unsafe," he dug out a white card from his wallet and handed it to her, "you can give me a shout."

Surprised at the gesture, she accepted the card, "Alec Hardy, Knight in Shining Armor. I'll keep that in mind. And if you need anything, you know where to find me. Even if it's a good cup of tea."

He nodded to her as she went inside, "Goodnight then, Miss... Bonnie."

She smiled, "Goodnight, Alec," as she shut the door and locked it. With a small smile still on her face, she noticed that Alec watched her walk up into her apartment safely before walking back to the Traders.

Let me know what you guys think. I know I've never really done a reality based show without monsters or magic or something. That's kind of why I added my own. And I just had the idea. And... David Tennant... Anyway, let me know what you think!

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RegalGirl94